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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






2. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






3. The flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line indicating the key of music the piece is to be played.






4. Three notes played in the same amount of time as one or two beats.






5. Pleasing combination of two or three tones played together in the background while a melody is being played. Harmony also refers to the study of chord progressions.






6. A dance written in triple time - where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure.






7. An important characteristic of the Romantic period. It is a style where the strict tempo is temporarily abandoned for a more emotional tone.






8. A piece of music written for two vocalists or instrumentalists.






9. One of two or more parts in polyphonic music. Voice refers to instrumental parts as well as the singing voice.






10. Passage for the entire ensemble or orchestra without a soloist.






11. Three note chords consisting of a root - third - and fifth.






12. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






13. Singing or chanting in unison without strict rhythm. Collected during the Reign of Pope Gregory VIII for psalms and other other parts of the church service.






14. A musical form where the principal theme is repeated several times. The rondo was often used for the final movements of classical sonata form works.






15. A direction in sheet music indicating the tempo is to be very fast.






16. A dance written in triple time - where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure.






17. A tempo having slow movement; restful at ease.






18. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






19. Group of singers in a chorus.






20. Eight full tones above the key note where the scale begins and ends.






21. The study of forms - history - science - and methods of music.






22. A combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments.






23. Introduction to an opera or other large musical work.






24. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






25. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1800's and lasted about sixty years. There was a strong regard for order and balance.






26. One of two or more parts in polyphonic music. Voice refers to instrumental parts as well as the singing voice.






27. The first section of a movement written in sonata form - introducing the melodies and themes.






28. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






29. Harsh - discordant - and lack of harmony. Also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord.






30. The technique of altering the tone color of a single note or musical line by changing from one instrument to another in the middle of a note or line.






31. A musical form where the melody or tune is imitated by individual parts at regular intervals. The individual parts may enter at different measures and pitches. The tune may also be played at different speeds - backwards - or inverted.






32. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






33. A melodic or - sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form.






34. A chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not.






35. The movement of chords in succession.






36. A 19th century square dance written for 4 couples.






37. Two or more voices or instruments playing the same note simultaneously.






38. The playing or singing the upper half of the vocal range. Also the highest voice in choral singing.






39. A system of notation for stringed instruments. The notes are indicated by the finger positions.






40. A reprise.






41. Convenient method of numbering a composer's works where a number follows the word 'opus'.For example - Opus 28 - No. 4.






42. A scale consisting of only whole-tone notes. Such a scale consists of only 6 notes.






43. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






44. A form of Italian opera beginning at the end of the 19th century. The setting is contemporary to the composer's own time - and the characters are modeled after every day life.






45. Combination of two or more keys being played at the same time.






46. The distance in pitch between two notes.






47. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






48. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






49. A group singing in unison.






50. A repeating phrase that is played at the end of each verse in the song.